logo
Minnesota Vikings CB earns honorable mention in league wide poll about best at position

Minnesota Vikings CB earns honorable mention in league wide poll about best at position

USA Today21-07-2025
Questions loom around a potential addition to the Minnesota Vikings' cornerback room. But one member of the team still managed to receive an honorable mention on ESPN's top-10 list.
ESPN finished its top-10 list with cornerbacks. Although he didn't land in the top 10, Byron Murphy Jr. received an honorable mention, with one executive praising him for his increased versatility in playing both inside and outside.
"He made a lot of plays last year. You have to give him credit. He was seen as more of an inside guy to start his career, but he's on the outside and producing in a big way." -- NFL personnel evaluator
Murphy is looking to build on his 2024 season, where he received his first Pro Bowl invitation after intercepting six passes, the most by a Vikings cornerback since 1998. If the other cornerbacks can step up, the Vikings' defense should be among the league's best.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

WWE Strikes $1.6 Billion USD Deal With ESPN
WWE Strikes $1.6 Billion USD Deal With ESPN

Hypebeast

time14 minutes ago

  • Hypebeast

WWE Strikes $1.6 Billion USD Deal With ESPN

Summary In a landmark agreement that reshapes the sports entertainment landscape,WWEhas finalized a multi-year deal withESPN, granting the Disney-owned company exclusive U.S. domestic streaming rights to all WWE Premium Live Events. The deal, valued at $1.6 billion USD over five years, marks a significant strategic victory for WWE and a pivotal move for ESPN's ambitious new streaming service. The agreement, which begins in 2026, will see all of WWE's marquee events—includingWrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series—move exclusively to ESPN's platforms in the U.S. This marks a major shift from WWE's current partnership with NBCUniversal's Peacock, which is set to expire in March 2026. This move aligns WWE's distribution model more closely with that of the UFC, which has seen immense success under the ESPN banner. For ESPN, the deal is a cornerstone of its new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service, which is launching on August 21st at a price of $29.99 USD per month. WWE's 'immense, devoted and passionate fanbase' is a key draw, with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro noting that the addition of WWE's biggest events will bolster their content portfolio and 'drive our streaming future.' The statement reads, 'WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fan base that we're excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform. This agreement, which features the most significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.' The deal not only grants ESPN the rights to the premium live events themselves but also the opportunity to stream pre- and post-show content, fully integrating WWE into its sports media ecosystem. Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO said, 'We are proud to reinforce the 'E' in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can't-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.' This partnership is part of a larger, aggressive push by ESPN to secure high-profile live event rights ahead of its new streaming service. The company recently finalized a deal with the NFL, which includes an equity stake for the league in exchange for media assets, and is reportedly in talks with Major League Baseball for a new rights package. The WWE deal, therefore, positions ESPN as a formidable force in the streaming wars, leveraging a wide range of live sports and entertainment to attract a diverse audience. While the deal is a massive financial success for WWE, it comes with a potential challenge for fans. The new ESPN streaming service will cost $29.99 USD per month, a significant increase from the $10.99 USD monthly price WWE fans currently pay for Peacock's unlimited plan. However, reports suggest that existing cable and satellite subscribers who receive ESPN as part of their package may be able to access the new WWE content at no additional cost through authentication. This development sets the stage for a new era of WWE viewing, where a single, dedicated platform becomes the exclusive home for all of the company's biggest events. Breaking News: WWE Premium Live Events are headed to@espnplatforms in the U.S. starting in — WWE (@WWE)August 6, 2025

NFLPA provides clarity on smelling salts in twist after league's ban
NFLPA provides clarity on smelling salts in twist after league's ban

New York Post

time40 minutes ago

  • New York Post

NFLPA provides clarity on smelling salts in twist after league's ban

Smelling salts aren't going anywhere. After it was reported Tuesday that the NFL was banning salts ahead of the 2025-26 season, the NFL Players Association offered some additional clarification on the rule change, which will surely please the players. The ban was actually placed only on teams supplying the salts, but players will be allowed to use the salts if they provide them themselves. Advertisement 3 Rams defensive end Kobie Turner takes a sniff of smelling salt during a game against the Packers. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images 'We were not notified of this club policy change before the memo was sent out,' the NFLPA said in a message to players, according to an ESPN report on Wednesday. 'To clarify, this policy does not prohibit player use of these substances, but rather it restricts clubs from providing or supplying them in any form. The NFL has confirmed this to us.' 3 Smelling salts lay on the sidelines during a game between the Colts and Steelers, AP Advertisement The league's original memo in which it announced the new prohibition of ammonia, which the salts contain, noted that the NFL's head, neck and spine committee made the recommendation for the ban based on the FDA's warning in 2024 about the negative effects of ammonia inhalants. The FDA's warning included 'the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion.' Smelling salts have long been used across numerous different sports as a stimulant for athletes, raising their awareness. 3 George Kittle expressed disappointment over the initial ban. AP Advertisement The clarification on the new rule saved many players from a world of disappointment. This includes 49ers tight end George Kittle, who crashed the set of NFL Network's 'Inside Training Camp' on Tuesday when he heard the original news. Advertisement 'I've been distraught all day,' Kittle said jokingly. 'I considered retirement. We've got to figure out a middle ground here, guys. Somebody help me out, somebody come up with a good idea. 'I miss those already.'

5 things to watch for during Week 1 of NFL preseason
5 things to watch for during Week 1 of NFL preseason

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

5 things to watch for during Week 1 of NFL preseason

5 things to watch for during Week 1 of NFL preseason | A to Z Sports NFL Newsletter originally appeared on A to Z Sports. SUBSCRIBE to our emails here. 5 things to watch for during Week 1 of NFL preseason The Hall of Fame Game notwithstanding, Week 1 of the NFL preseason begins on Thursday. We will get our first look at the 2025 NFL Draft class in game action, as well as free agents who changed teams during the offseason. Here are our top five things to watch for during this weekend's slate. Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter playing both sides of the ball: Hunter is one of the most hyped-up rookies in recent memory, thanks to his expected attempt to play both offense and defense. Jacksonville has listed him as a starting WR and a second-string CB on its depth chart. It will be interesting to see how the Jaguars' coaching staff manages his workload. How he performs at each position will likely dictate where he gets the most snaps. Debut of Titans QB Cam Ward: Tennessee used their No. 1 overall draft pick on Ward, committing to him as the future of the franchise. He's had his ups and downs throughout training camp, but how he performs in preseason will give us a more accurate look at his abilities. Equally as important as making good throws will be Ward's command of the offense, such as getting in and out of the huddle quickly, making sure guys are lined up properly, and reading defenses. QB Aaron Rodgers debut with Steelers: The longest saga of the offseason was the back-and-forth between Rodgers and Pittsburgh. The 21-year-veteran finally signed with the franchise, and expects this season to be his last. The big question surrounding Rodgers is whether or not he has enough left in the tank to lead the Steelers to the Super Bowl. We're a long way from that, but a positive start in his debut would ease some nerves. Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler compete for Saints starting QB role: New Orleans is not tipping its hand as to who has the advantage, and has even promoted Jake Haener as in the mix. Haener is likely a longshot, but Shough and Rattler seem to be on pretty even footing. Whoever plays best in their game on Sunday should get the upper hand, but the battle could last through all three preseason matchups. Ben Johnson leads new-look Bears offense: Johnson was the hot name in this year's head coaching cycle, and he is now paired up with 2024 No. 1 overall pick QB Caleb Williams. Chicago remodeled its offensive line, and added a couple of new rookie weapons in tight end Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden III. The pressure will be on Johnson to succeed quickly and get the most out of Williams and the Bears' offense. ESPN purchases NFL Network — what to know The NFL and ESPN have announced a non-binding agreement that ESPN will acquire NFL Network and certain other media assets owned and controlled by the NFL, including RedZone and NFL Fantasy. In exchange, the NFL will receive a 10 percent equity stake in ESPN. More terms of the agreement: NFL Network will be owned and operated by ESPN and fully integrated into ESPN DTC. NFL RedZone will still be available on NFL+, but ESPN will distribute it on traditional television. NFL Fantasy Football will merge with ESPN Fantasy Football. ESPN's platforms will license an additional three NFL games per season to air on NFL Network. The NFL will continue to own and operate its retained media businesses such as NFL Films, NFL+, the NFL Podcast Network, the NFL FAST Channel, and the official sites for the league's 32 clubs. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store